What Guys Look For In Girls- Savannah Brown Poem by various poets

When I first learned that no one could ever love me more than me
a world of happiness previously unseen was discovered
because somewhere along the line of aging and scrutiny and time
I was taught to despise myself
but i kept myself beautiful so someone would love me someday
so i could belong to someone someday
because that's the most important thing a little girl could ever want right?

I was 13 the first time i was embarrassed about my body
of course it would not be the last
I remember in the morning
tears streaming down my eyes
hoping, praying to something that I Could look beautiful enough today braces and all
for the ruthless boys who told me I was worthless
and i would go home and put on a sweatshirt with my eyes closed
denying myself the right to be shown myself
because I didn't dare insinuate beauty in regards to something so insulting as my body

but we all end up with our heads between our knees
because the only place we feel safe is inside skin we've been taught to hate
by a society that shuns our awful confidence and feed us our own flaws
and sometimes when i need to meet the me that loves me i can't find her
a reminder that the mirror is meant to be a curse
so i confine her in my mind
be when he or she shouts let me out we are allowed to listen

but its met by a chorus of conceited, egotistical, narcissist
but since when was self solicitude a sin?
since when was loving who we are made an offense by morons who do not matter?
change this physicality and that one
don't you dare shatter the notion that you could ever be anything beyond paper fine skin and flashy teeth and fingernails
echoic accusations of not good enough never good enough
have you ever felt so numb that it hurts?

you can't surrender to them
you gotta remember you're the only thing you'll ever truly have
and no i don't mean your body
that will go bad someday no matter what you do
I mean you

I mean the way your bright eyes go wild when you smile
and your laughter's so melodic its a song
I mean the way your creativity is a compus
that leads you to what you love
and you don't need and miracle cream to keep you passions smooth hair free
and you don't need any diet pills to slim down your kindness
and when you start to drown in these petty expectations
you better reexamine the miracle of your existence
because you are worth so much more than your waistline
you are worth the beautiful thoughts you think
and the daring dreams you dream
but sometimes we forget that

because we live in a world where the media
pulls us out, nurses us and teaches us our first words
skinny pretty skinny pretty
girl: soft quiet pretty
boy: manly muscles pretty
but i don't care whether it's your gender, your looks, your weight, your skin or where your love lies
none of that matters
because standards don't define you
you don't live to meet the credentials set by a madman
you're a treasure whether you want to believe it or not
and maybe that's what everyone should start looking for